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{{For|the song|The Electric Spanking of War Babies (song)}} {{more citations needed|date=June 2010}} {{Infobox album | name = The Electric Spanking of War Babies | type = studio | artist = [[Funkadelic]] | cover = TheElectricSpankingOfWarBabies.jpg | alt = | released = April 14, 1981 | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = [[Funk]] | length = 43:52 | label = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]] | producer = [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]] | prev_title = [[Connections & Disconnections]] | prev_year = 1980 | next_title = [[By Way of the Drum]] | next_year = 2007 | misc = {{Extra chronology | artist = [[Parliament-Funkadelic|P-Funk]] collective | type = studio | prev_title = [[Trombipulation]] | prev_year = 1980 | title = The Electric Spanking of War Babies | year = 1981 | next_title = [[Computer Games (album)|Computer Games]] | next_year = 1982 }}{{Extra album cover | header = Alternative cover | type = studio | cover = The Electric Spanking of War Babies alternate.jpg | border = | alt = | caption = Original, uncensored cover }} }} '''''The Electric Spanking of War Babies''''' is the twelfth [[studio album]] by the American [[funk rock]] band [[Funkadelic]], released in April 1981 on [[Warner Bros. Records]]. The title is an allusion to the [[Vietnam War]] and [[baby boomers]]. [[Sly Stone]] contributed to the recording sessions, singing lead vocals on "Funk Gets Stronger (Killer Millimeter Longer Version)". ==Background== Clinton originally planned on a [[double album]], but the idea was quashed by Warner Brothers. The original tracklist featured the instrumental version of the title track found on the 12" single's b-side, as well as the tracks "May Day (S.O.S.)" and "I Angle", later released on the George Clinton Family Series albums [[Plush Funk]] and [[Testing Positive 4 the Funk]], respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pfunkforums.com/t/tracklist-of-the-original-planned-electric-spanking/472/12|title=Tracklist of the original planned Electric Spanking|date=20 August 2020}}</ref> The title refers to the US government's use of media propaganda to promote [[imperialism]] and war.<ref name="Allmusic"/> It includes many relative newcomers to [[List of P-Funk members|P-Funk]], many of whom remained employed by [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]] on future releases under his own name or under the name George Clinton & the P-Funk All-Stars. Of all the original group members since Funkadelic's debut album, only George Clinton, Ray Davis, and [[Eddie Hazel]] appear on this album. Junie Morrison plays all the instruments on the title track except the guitar solo which was played by Michael Hampton. This was the last Album to feature Eddie Hazel, Ray Davis, Garry Shider, Junie Morrison, Mallia Franklin, and Jessica Cleaves. Also this is the only Funkadelic album the late [[Roger Troutman]] appears on as well. [[Sly Stone]] performs several instruments and contributed production work to the album. ==Artwork controversy== The cover artwork was designed by long-time Funkadelic collaborator [[Pedro Bell]]. Deemed inappropriate due to the cover featuring an overtly phallic spaceship that transported a naked woman, the work was edited, despite the fact that Funkadelic "was following up two consecutive million-selling records," while signed to [[Warner Records|Warner Bros]].<ref name=RollingStone-BannedInTheUSA-2015/> Bell revised ''The Electric Spanking of War Babies'' so the image was featured with a lime-green sketch of shape covering the majority of the cover art, which says, βOh Look! The Cover that βTheyβ were TOO-SCARED to print!β<ref name=RollingStone-BannedInTheUSA-2015>{{cite magazine|last1=Edwards|first1=Gavin|title=Banned in the U.S.A.: 20 Wildest Censored Album Covers - Funkadelic, 'The Electric Spanking of War Babies' (1981)|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/banned-in-the-u-s-a-20-wildest-censored-album-covers-154101/the-mamas-and-the-papas-if-you-can-believe-your-eyes-and-ears-1966-45904/|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=January 15, 2015}}</ref> ==Critical response== {{Album ratings |rev1 = [[AllMusic]] |rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="Allmusic">[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r66741|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic review]</ref> |rev2 = ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]'' |rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>[http://www.blender.com/guide/new/55202/electric-spanking-war-babies.html Blender review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822193451/http://www.blender.com/guide/new/55202/electric-spanking-war-babies.html |date=2009-08-22 }}</ref> |rev3 = ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s]]'' |rev3Score = Aβ<ref name="Christgau">[http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Funkadelic Robert Christgau review]</ref> |rev4 = ''[[The New York Times]]'' |rev4score = (mixed)<ref>{{cite news |title=BIG BLACK POP BANDS HAVE LOST EXCITEMENT AND ADVENTURE (Published 1981) |work=The New York Times |date=6 December 1981 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126062545/http://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/06/arts/big-black-pop-bands-have-lost-excitement-and-adventure.html |archive-date=2018-01-26 |url-status=live |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/06/arts/big-black-pop-bands-have-lost-excitement-and-adventure.html?&pagewanted=all |last1=Rockwell |first1=John }}</ref> |rev5 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' |rev5score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=lRgtYCC6OUwC&pg=PA316&dq= Rolling Stone review]</ref> }} *"Whether or not one cares to examine its hidden political messages, Electric Spanking is an above-average party album." **[[AllMusic]]<ref name="Allmusic"/> *"George Clinton reaches into the disgusting depths of his drug-addled mind and comes up with the solidest, weirdest chunk of P-Funk since one nation gathered under a groove." **[[Robert Christgau]]<ref name="Christgau"/> ==Track listing== {{Track listing | extra_column = Producer(s) | collapsed = | headline = Side One | title1 = [[The Electric Spanking of War Babies (song)|The Electric Spanking of War Babies]] | writer1 = Bob Bishop, [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]], [[Walter "Junie" Morrison|Junie Morrison]] | extra1 = George Clinton, [[Junie Morrison]] | length1 = 8:37 | title2 = Electro-Cuties | writer2 = Jimmy Ali, Clinton, Ron Ford | extra2 = George Clinton, Ron Ford | length2 = 6:10 | title3 = Funk Gets Stronger, Part 1 | writer3 = Clinton, [[Michael Hampton]] | extra3 = George Clinton, [[Bootsy Collins]], [[Sly Stone]] | length3 = 6:37 }} {{Track listing | extra_column = Producer(s) | collapsed = | headline = Side Two | title1 = Brettino's Bounce | writer1 = Larry Fratangelo | extra1 = George Clinton | length1 = 3:38 | title2 = Funk Gets Stronger (Killer Millimeter Longer Version) | note2 = <small>interpolates "[[She Loves You]]" by [[the Beatles]]</small> | writer2 = Clinton. [[Sly Stone|Sylvester Stewart]] | extra2 = George Clinton, Sly Stone | length2 = 4:42 | title3 = Shockwaves | writer3 = [[Ron Dunbar]], [[DeWayne McKnight]] | extra3 = George Clinton, Ron Dunbar | length3 = 5:10 | title4 = Oh, I | writer4 = Clinton, Rodney Curtis, [[Garry Shider]] | extra4 = George Clinton, [[Garry Shider]] | length4 = 4:51 | title5 = Icka Prick | writer5 = Clinton, Shider | extra5 = George Clinton, Garry Shider | length5 = 4:07 }} ==Personnel== *George Clinton β lead vocals (on #1β3, 5, 8) *[[Junie Morrison]] β bass, rhythm guitar, keyboards and drums (1) *[[Roger Troutman]] β rhythm guitar, bass and Moog synthesizer (3) *[[Michael Hampton]] (1β3, 7, 8), Jerome Ali (2, 7), [[Eddie Hazel]] (5) β lead guitar *[[DeWayne McKnight]] β guitar (6) *Gordon Carlton β rhythm guitar (2, 7) *Jimmy Ali (2), Lige Curry (3, 6, 8), Rodney Curtis (7) β bass *Kenny Colton (2, 6), Tyrone Lampkin (3, 7) β drums *Larry Fratangelo β percussion (3, 4, 6), drums (4) *[[Muruga Booker]] β electric talking drum (3) *Marion Saulsby β keyboards (7) *David Lee Chong β Moog synthesizer and keyboards (8) *[[Pat Rizzo]] (3, 5), [[Michael Brecker]] (7) β saxophone *[[Cynthia Robinson]] β trumpet (3, 5) *[[Bootsy Collins]] β vocals (3) *[[Tony Thomas (guitarist)|Tony Thomas]] β vocals *[[Donnie Sterling]] β lead vocals (6) *[[Garry Shider]] β lead vocals (7), rhythm guitar (7, 8) *[[Sly Stone]] β lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards and drums (5) ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * ''[http://www.discogs.com/Funkadelic-The-Electric-Spanking-Of-War-Babies/master/16185 The Electric Spanking of War Babies]'' at [[Discogs]] *[http://mother.pfunkarchive.com/motherpage/albums_funkadelic/alb-espank.html The Motherpage] {{Funkadelic}} {{P-Funk}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Electric Spanking Of War Babies, The}} [[Category:Funkadelic albums]] [[Category:1981 albums]] [[Category:Warner Records albums]] [[Category:Albums with cover art by Pedro Bell]]
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